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bark up the wrong tree

To attempt or pursue the wrong thing; to take the wrong approach; to follow a false lead.

Etymology:

  • An allusion to a situation in which a hunting dog misidentifies the tree up which it has chased an animal and positions itself at the base of another tree, barking upward at the branches.
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If you think you're going to get him to agree just by asking, you're barking up the wrong tree.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'bark up the wrong tree':

Bark Up the Wrong TreeTo have a wrong guess or idea about someone or some situation, efforts and attentions being diverted in a wrong direction
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to bark up the wrong tree

apple never falls far from the treeapple does not fall far from the treebarking up the wrong tree!get out of bed on the wrong sidebarking up the wrong treedown the wrong alley3-on-the-treeget into the wrong handsdogs barkall bark and no bitedead tree editionas the twig is bent, so the tree's incl…can't do right for doing wrongChristmas tree bill

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